Tampa, FL – Over 50 people joined together the night of July 3 to demand an end to racist violence. Protesting police crimes, white supremacist activity and the recent attacks on African American churches, activists and community members gathered at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa, chanting, “Black lives matter!” and “Cops and Klan go hand in hand!”

Many people and groups came forward to speak to the crowd. They talked about the racist violence from vigilantes and white supremacists like Dylann Roof and George Zimmerman. They also talked about the Tampa Police Department’s bicycle stop-and-frisk program. The program targets African Americans. It is used to arrest and harass residents of poor, African American neighborhoods in East Tampa.

Danya Zituni of Students for a Democratic Society said, “We're here to stand in solidarity with the families of the victims in the Charleston terrorist attack, and in their honor protest the monuments in Tampa that symbolize white supremacy.”

Hillsborough county, where Tampa is located, is home of the world's largest confederate flag. The confederate flag is also in the lobby of the Hillsborough County Building. Tampa is home to Robert E. Lee Elementary school, which is located in a predominantly African American neighborhood.

Jessica Schwartz of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization summed it up, “These cases are not isolated incidents, as some would say. This is a clear attack on Black people in the Black Belt south. We see that national oppression here in Tampa. Through Tampa's police bike program and the Confederate flag which waves over I-75. Did you know that in the past seven days, 11 Black churches have been burnt down, including here in Florida!”

Crystal Wilson on behalf of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, holding an American flag, later said, “Liberty and justice is only for a few individuals. Mike Brown didn't get justice. Eric Gardner didn't get justice. Rodney Mitchell didn't get justice. Andrew Joseph III didn't get justice. The people of East Tampa haven't received justice. This flag and this idea of liberty and justice for all is a lie. This flag is a symbol of oppression to so many people throughout the world.”

After the speech people crowded closer together chanting “Black lives matter!” Wilson took the flag and used a lighter to set is ablaze. From the crowd another larger American flag was brought forward and also set on fire. People continued chanting.

Later the crowd set three Confederate flags on fire.

#TampaFL #InJusticeSystem #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #AntiRacism #Florida #Charleston

Durham, NC – Over 200 people gathered in east Durham on June 20 to rally and speak out against the white supremacist terror attack in Charleston that left nine African Americans dead earlier this week. The rally, organized by the Durham Solidarity Center, included speakers from Muslims for Social Justice, Black Workers for Justice, Workers World Party, as well as other activists and organizers in the community.

“I still feel numb over what happened,” said Lamont Lilly, the emcee of the event. “Every week there is a hashtag of someone in our community who's been killed.” Another speaker quoted Malcom X, saying, “We are not Americans, we are victims of America.”

While the overriding emotions expressed were of shock and pain, many speakers urged those in attendance to organize, defend the community and keep fighting back against racist terror and police killings. Desmera Gatewood gave an powerful speech that urged everyone attending to work every day to challenge the system of racist oppression. Qasima Wideman, speaking for Muslims for Social Justice, noted, “We call on Muslim community to join us in challenging white supremacy in all its forms, whether murders of Black and brown people by police, school-to-prison-pipeline, prison-industrial-complex, environmental racism, gentrification or the war on poor.”

#DurhamNC #AfricanAmerican #Antiracism #Charleston #SouthCarolina